Not all colleges approach interviewing the same way. We'll be clear: we highly encourage you to interview with us. Most students who interview at Kenyon are happily surprised not only by how much they learn about Kenyon during the process, but also by how much fun it can be. Many a student has emerged from the interview highly energized by the experience, perhaps moving Kenyon up on their list. We think this has a lot to do with the informal yet informative nature of a Kenyon interview.

The interview is not the grand inquisition you're anticipating. Rather, it's an opportunity for you to learn more about the college, through the eyes of an admissions officer or upperclass student, and an opportunity for them to learn more about you. (We write up a short summary of our conversation with you, noting your engagement, interest level, and fit with Kenyon.) Often, we follow whatever thread comes up in the conversation. If a student wants to talk about their favorite class, great. If they want to ask questions (some even write them down beforehand), we answer to the best of our ability. It really doesn't matter what we talk about—it's just that we talk, and we get a sense of how students view themselves and their education. The best interviews are often those that are basically an enjoyable conversation: easy, illuminating, and fun.

A word about who interviews you. At Kenyon, both officers and "admissions fellows," who are college seniors, do interviewing. Don't worry about who interviews you; it's often a matter of who is available. Our admissions fellows are trained paraprofessionals, and their evaluations are as important as those done by officers. The advantage of interviewing with a fellow is that they are close to the experience you hope to have soon and they can provide more "on-the-ground" answers to your questions. Plus, you'll get a sense of who comes to Kenyon. Feel free to ask the interviewer, "Why did you choose the college? What do you like, or not like?" Now you're the one conducting the interview!